Apprenticeships for Business
An apprenticeship combines academic study at university with on-the-job training in the workplace. Apprenticeships are a great way to attract and retain talent for your business, boost productivity and up-skill your workforce.
The Apprenticeship Services Unit at the University of Salford are here to support you throughout your apprenticeship journey. From admissions and onboarding to ongoing support throughout the apprenticeship, we are here to make the process as smooth as possible. We can even help you to advertise your vacancies if you are looking to recruit new staff. We’re a small team but we are all passionate about what we do and committed to ensuring both you, the employer and the apprentice themselves have the best possible experience. To find out more about our apprenticeship programmes, download our employer guide.
To find out more about working with us, email apprenticeships@salford.ac.uk, call +44 (0)161 295 3063 or fill out the contact us form.
Health and Society
Construction and engineering
Educate North Apprenticeship Award Winners
At the University of Salford, we're proud to have received the Apprenticeship Award at the Educate North Awards 2026, recognising our commitment to delivering career-focused education that makes a real impact across our region and beyond.
This achievement reflects the strength of our employer partnerships, the dedication of our colleagues, and the success of our apprentices as they develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to thrive in their industries.
Our Ofsted rating
In 2024, Ofsted inspected our apprenticeship provision and has confirmed our grading outcome as Good. This outcome is a testament to the hard work, commitment, and dedication of colleagues and employers in supporting our apprentices to develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours, whilst having the best apprenticeship experience possible.
Amongst the findings, our strengths include:
- Highly qualified and experienced staff
- Individual Learning Model to plan personalised curriculums
- High-quality resources
- Collaborative working with employers.
Our programmes
We offer undergraduate and postgraduate degree apprenticeship programmes across a range of subject areas, including Construction, Engineering, Health, Science and Public Services. Browse the list below for more details.
Our programmes
Construction and Engineering
Health and Society
Science
National Apprenticeship Week
National Apprenticeship Week is our opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Salford apprentices and the positive impact they are having on their communities, workplaces, and the wider economy. This year, we had a lot to celebrate as we've seen our apprenticeship provision continue to grow and develop, in part due to the over half a million pounds in funding we received from the Office for Students. Watch our video to see how we celebrated National Apprenticeship Week 2025 or visit our webpage to learn more.
FAQs
If you want to learn more about apprenticeships, take a look through our frequently asked questions. If you have a question that isn't answered here, please contact us using apprenticeships@salford.ac.uk or +44 (0)161 295 3063.
Information on safeguarding and our British values statement:
Choose your question
Who pays the apprentice's training costs?
Who recruits the apprentice?
Will the apprentice learn skills and knowledge that is relevant to my business?
Who is eligible for an apprenticeship?
What apprenticeships are available at the University of Salford?
How much time will the apprentice spend at work and at university?
How long do apprenticeships take to complete?
Who pays the apprentice's wage?
Where can I get more information about apprenticeships?
Maths and English
Recent government reforms have removed the mandatory requirement for apprentices aged 19 and over to hold Level 2 (L2) Maths and English qualifications at the Gateway to Completion stage. However, it is important to clarify that this change does not override the academic and professional standards set by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
As a university delivering degree-level apprenticeships, we must consider a broader set of factors beyond the minimum government requirements. These include:
- Professional Body Requirements: Many apprenticeship standards are regulated or influenced by professional bodies, which may continue to require L2 Maths and/or English as part of their registration or recognition criteria.
- Academic Entry Standards: Degree apprenticeships are academically rigorous. In line with our institutional admissions policies, we may require L2 Maths and English as part of our minimum entry criteria to ensure apprentices are adequately prepared for the demands of higher-level study.
- Learner Success and Retention: We are committed to supporting apprentices in achieving successful outcomes. Foundational skills in Maths and English are essential for enabling learners to thrive both academically and professionally.
Therefore, while employers play a vital role in apprenticeship recruitment and training, the final decision on entry requirements - including the necessity of L2 Maths and English - rests with the HEI. This ensures that all apprentices are equipped with the skills needed to succeed in both their academic and workplace learning environments.
For further guidance, contact the Apprenticeship Service Unit at apprenticeships@salford.ac.uk.
Application deadlines
Please be aware of the application deadlines below for each of our intakes. If an application hasn’t been received by this date, consideration will be given for the next available intake. Please be advised this is a deadline for a full application to be made. A request for services form will have to be completed prior to the application form being shared.
These dates allow us sufficient time to draw up and issue the employer evidence pack (contract etc.). Please also be aware that we will need to receive the completed employer evidence pack back prior to the apprentice starting the programme.
- September 2026 Intake – The application deadline is Friday 31 July 2026
- January 2027 Intake - The application deadline is Friday 27 November 2026
- March 2026 Intake - The application deadline is Friday 20 March 2026
- April 2027 Intake - The application deadline is Friday 19 March 2027